Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-02-05
TIE " AGON BOY.

renee. IN the picturesque dress oil tht
plainsman. as he "a, an his fleet mustang
and cracked his long. whip after his hall
dozen span Of ear happing mules Tall
muscular. well developed. keen eyed. a
perfect CcntaUr Of a hur>emsn. and or.
dInarily. il must I've said. John was on
pretty good terms with himself
Ordinarily. hut not that morning. No.
indeed but un the contrary pretty thor.
oughly out nf sorts. and all because Of a
few little words he had heard from the
lip- uf one ot the train company
only a wagon boy" he muttered to
himself. ~ the cloud decpcncd on his
hrDuzel and bearded face That is all
And I've crossed the plains and back six
round times and never made had trip
yet Always sold w-ll. not 10 speak Of
fares and trades and mining claims I've
brought IN. And m only a wagon boy
W ell. | wnn'' go back on what I've done.
Tor I've waguncrl II tu some purpose I'd
m .ant this "trip for wind mp. but I'm
half inclined 10 keep It up, now I've heard
that What's blue uniform. that any
spriE Of lieutenant should dare look
down ON me Hes IN command Of the
e>cor. and ~ Of the train. too. just now
but may bc III meet him ON equal terms
some day.
Perhaps John would have given some
thing - have known what eyes were ad-
mlriuG his easy and graceful seat in the
saddle. or what other lips were repeating
Only a wagon boy or To have heard
Mary Denuisnu add that's what Lieut.
Strong SAYS. hut wonder If all the plains
wagon boys are like him should say
not. by good deal. from the specimens
have seen
My daughter " said pursy and some
what pompous gentleman who sat beside
her in the light, covered wagon, you
mustn't forget whats due to your posi-
tinn. We have had our mi>fprtunes, but
there's no 1T company here for you and
me. unless 1t may le Lieut. strong
Company. father, don't want any
company, but why isn't the man who
commands the transfers somebody, aS
well a. the mau who commands the
escort
Mary. you astoni~h me-" exclaimed
her father Lieut. strong is a gentle
man, while John Lawrence is"
"Whar, father He seems to have a
pretty good education.
only a wagon boy. snapped the old
gentleman. put out by the interruption
And how do You know anything about
his eiucatiUn You have not been ~ care
less rs TO talk with him
Indeed | have. father" said the
young beauty with half merry. half
willful look. and he - capital talker
He has had wonderful experiences, too. on
the plains and at the mines You might
learn something from him about the set
uf men You are 10 do business with. II
ever YOU get vOur goods safely ont there -
Meme learn from the like of him
Are You crazy NAV have had my mis-
fortunes. but Carlos DenuI~on i not the
man TO rake among teanISters and wagon
bo,, Tor any Information. Teach me. in
decd think I'll show them a thing or
two myself when We get out there
II We ever do" half sadly responded
hi daughter The scouts say We have
been in the nciEhhnrhoDf OF Indian hands
these thrce days, and they may come down
on Us at any time "
What and we with such an escort ,
Under such man as Lieut.. Strung'
Nonsense Before tomorrow night we
shall be safe at this ranCh-lA Nertida ,
L, thst it, Almost a fort, they say"
Well father. hope We may, but there
Is danger between this and that. and
there'u bc more beyond IL But, father,
lOok-there's "a grove of trees for Won
der. and they're the first we've seen in
two weeks that were bigger than bushes -
The old gentleman was himself pleased
at the sight Of the grove, but hardly had
half the distance been passed in reaching
them before there were signs Of some new
and stronger commotion in the train
Could il be- that John Lawrence had 50
far forgotten his position a. To come 10
words with the officer in commando
Hardly that, although the wagon boy
was certainly cNpo>tulating most earnestly
against something the Lieutenant had
made up his mind Ia do
You Il never catch them in the world, "
he said They re swar party Of Kiowas
or I'm mistaken, and you might as well
20 for - many hungry buzzards What's
more, there : no saying what may happen
to the train while You re gone
Il don't need To be taught my duty by
a wagon hoy replied the Young officer
Those pyowlIng sayaGeS need a lesson,
and | mean 10 give them one 60 straight
forward with the train. Don't go into
camp till join you"
John Lawrence nodded, but not a word
escaped him. and in a moment more the
lieutenant had dashed away, followed by
the sCant two dozen cavalry. which Consti-
tuted the escort Not q blueCoat WAS
left. and john Lawrence was therefore in
command
Not had force 10 command, either.
were the twenty odd Of brawuy hard
looking, well armed transfers. who had
recognized John Lawrence A. their leader,
Deaciy half Of them being in his own en-
pluy Some OF them who had heard Lieut.
Strong however, were half astOnished at
Johns first order
Make straight for that bit Of a grove
he shouted No tagging and no breaking
the line Whip up uuw-there's no telling
how much time We may have
Il say. YOU, there-Iohn Lawrence
cried the whe"zy voice OF Mr. Dennison,
Il heard the lieutenant instructions to
you. Keep right on, | command You, |
forbid you TO stop for one moment
Don't YOU see I'm making all the haste
l cam grimly rpled the Young plains
man. "Nou must make some allowance
tor prejudices nav dear sir Were all
pretty likely &, lose our sCalpS this after
noon, and I've made up my mind Id
-ather he scalped in that patch of timber
than out here
The mules and the oxen We're pushed TO
their utterm0~t for that half mile. but Just
H. the foremost teams were getting in un-
der the trees the low rolls of the surround
ing prairie began 10 show here and there.
nj swift intervals, just such fiuttering
plume- and just such squads Of wild riders
u had lurcd Lieut. Strong on his self
appointed errand of kiowa instruction.
John Lawrence on his quick footed mus
tang seemed to be everywhere at once;
and Mary Dennison was almost afraid she
heard him swear. as he shouted his or
l.r. t" the teaInsters and FASTENED the